DE2232311A1 - LOET-FREE WIRE CONNECTOR - Google Patents

Description

M 3146

PATEHTANW / LT ^ . 9? ^? 3 1 1

Ofvtof. HANS RUSCHXE D1pl.-lnfl.HFN /. Λ: ULAR

BEfiUii 33

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company,
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101, V.St.vA

.Solderless wire connector

The present invention relates to a solderless wire connector such as that used for electrically connecting insulated metal wire conductors. 'can be used, which are commonly used on telephone and other <

Switching circuits are used. ι

Many known solderless wire connectors consist of a first part with aen wire receiving channels and a second part that is fixed for movement relative to the first part and
carries a conductive metal contact element. The second part is
relative to the first part of an open position in which the
Contact element at a distance from uen the wire receiving channels
is arranged, movable into a closed position, in dsr
In abotand each other, the legs of the contact element are transverse to the channel and in contact with the electrical wires
the channels so that electrical contact is made between them. Two pawls that work with the parts are j

ORfGINAL 209882/0841

! also provided to determine the position of the parts and ι to secure the parts in their closed position.

Connectors of this type typically require the use of a tool to move the parts into their closed position to move. Accordingly, a craftsman has to put the wires in the sewer.

. insert, holding the wires in place with one hand while gripping a pliers-like tool with the other hand, bringing it together with the connector parts, and pressing the parts into their closed position. This handling is

! difficult, and occasionally the wires shift, which can result in a defective connection.

A second problem that has occurred with some known connections is is the possibility that ^ le channels introduced , Wires are not properly positioned with respect to the contact element during the closure of the connector, so that one end of a leg of the contact element press and damage the wire can.

In addition, many of the known connectors of the type which connect a continuous or end-to-end wire to a termination or tap wire do not provide a sufficiently tight seal! Enclosure in a closed position to prevent the dielectric grease from erosion, which grease is more typically; is as lubricated to the contact element around to the elec- 'to protect trical connection when the connector moisture' is exposed.

The present invention relates to a connector as described above Type with two parts that are movable relative to one another to provide a contact element with wires in channels in the connector and latches to secure the connector in the closed position. In contrast to the state However, the connector of the present invention has ι technology a partially closed position between the open and

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the fully closed position in which the parts are releasably held by the pawls and in which the parts-in-connector hold the insulation on the wires in the channels. The parts ; j of the present invention can be brought into the partially closed position by pinger pressure. Accordingly, when the artisan has disposed in the connector the wires by hand, he can move the connector parts in their partially closed position with only the pinger pressure of the connector holding hand · 'and so that the correct holding of the wires ensure the connectors provide \, while a pliers-like tool is used to close the connector completely.

In addition, in the connector according to the present invention, the part to which the contact element is attached includes; slotted insulating brackets with diverging openings to allow the wires in the channels into the recesses of the contact element when the connector is closed. lead, thereby damaging the wires through the ends of the connector. ι thigh is prevented. In addition to guiding the wire; engage the slotted caging the insulation of each Dahtes and restrict movement of the wires on ^Kontaktele-: ment and thus restrict the possibility of wire breakage at the junction with the contact element to a minimum.

] With a connector of the present invention, an I. continuous wire can be connected to a tap wire. ;

■ »ι

The slotted wire retainers contain a dielectric ' grease around the contact element to protect the electrical connections between the contact element and a wire, and. the connector provides novel mating walls to form a fully enclosed contact portion in the fully closed position and to limit the erosion of the dielectric grease upon exposure to moisture.

According to the present invention, a solderless wire connection, proposed binder, which is suitable for connecting at least two electrical wires together, each one

209882/084 1 ORIGINAL BATHROOM

have insulating coating. The connector consists of a ι insulating, resilient first part with parallel wire! acquisition channels, the one extending perpendicular to the channels Have groove, and with a first set of protruding pawls. An insulating, resilient second part is on the first part constructed for relative movement from an open to a closed position and has a second set of protrusions Pawls that work with the first set to set the open and closed positions and that to secure the first and second parts in the closed position. A metal contact element is attached to the second part and has spaced legs that are parallel. Define lele, the wire-receiving recesses in between. The contact moment is at a distance from those receiving the wires Channels when the first and second parts are in the; open position and it is transverse with the thighs; to the channels in the slot when the parts j located in the closed position to establish an electrical connection between the electrical wires in the wire receiving; to manufacture channels. In the connector according to the present j In the invention, the first and second sets of pawls work together to create a lock and the parts in one partially closed position between the open and the> closed position and the connector contains Hal- j parts that are attached to the insulation of the wires in the ducts! attack when the parts are in the partially closed! Position to locate the electrical wires in the ducts'; to keep. The interaction of the pawls and the way they work j the holding parts allow the parts to move from the open ' into the partially closed position due to finger pressure »

The invention will be more fully understood with reference to folj referring to the description referring to the accompanying drawings; refers in which like reference signs like parts in all Mark figures. In the drawings is

BAD ORIGINAL 209882/08 /, 1

j Flg. 1 is a detailed view of a preferred embodiment a connector according to the present invention, wherein the first part is turned upside down, and the inner parts together » to show working parts of the manufacturer

Figure 2 is a plan view of the connector of Figure 1;

ι Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, j which shows the parts in the open position,

¹ ■ i

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2, which the parts of the distributor in the partially closed!

cut a position, · j

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 2 showing the parts of the connector in the fully closed \

Position shows j

! Fig. 6 is a sectional view which corresponds approximately to the line 6-6 in Fig. 5, with some parts in plan view, j

7 shows a sectional view along the line 7-7 in FIGS

I Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 in Fig. 6.

J In the drawings, a solderless connector according to the present invention for electrically connecting a continuous j borrowed or continuous wire 22 with a termination or; Tap wire 23 (see Figure 2) is shown. The connector exists j from an insulating, resilient first part or body 10 with i an E & thaufnähmekanal 48 for receiving the passing Wire 22 and a wire receiving channel 49 for receiving the tap wire 23, and it has a first set of protruding pawls 11, 62 and 63. An insulating, resilient second Toll or a cap 12 is attached to the body 10 for one

209862/0841

relative movement from an open position (Fig. 3) to a ; closed position (Fig. 5) and has a second set of inwardly protruding pawls 40 and 41, which with the Kl- ! ktn 11, 62 and 63 work together on the body 10, un the open ! and the closed position of the body and cap 10 and 12, respectively. set and the body 10 with the cap '2 in the closed «- 1 secure their position. A plate-like metal contact

ment 26 is attached to the cap 12 and has legs 29 *; Define the wire take-up recesses 3I between them. The con-! clock element 26 is at a distance from the wire receiving channels 48; and arranged 49 when cap 12 and body lO are in the open \ position, and the legs 29 of the contact element Lie! gene transversely to the channels 48 and 49 in a groove in the body 10, 'when the body 10 and cap 12 are in the closed position ^! 'are located to establish electrical contact between the electrical' wires 22 and 23 in the channels 48 and 49. ^!

The body 10 and the cap 12 of the novel connector according to the present invention can be removed by finger pressure from their open position (Fig. 3) to a partially closed position

[ ment (Fig. 4) are moved, during which movement a number of retaining fingers 37 on the cap 12 keep the wires 22 and 23 in the correct position for contact by the legs. 29 of the contact element 26 when the body moves 10 and the cap 12 in the closed position. In the ■. In the partially closed position, the holding fingers 37 J and the legs 29 of the contact element 26 contact the wires 22 and 23 in order to hold the wires 22 and 23 in the wire receiving channels 48 and 49 in a fixed longitudinal direction. The first and second sets of pawls 11, 62, 63, 40 and 41 cooperate so that the body 10 and the cap 12 are partially ungrounded in their _; are held Senen position releasably (Fig. 4), ■ whereby the electrical wires held 22 and 23 indene channels 48 and 49 before the body 10 and the cap 12 (not shown) using 1 of an auxiliary tool brought to its closed position will.

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To aid in understanding the preferred embodiment, 1-8, it is assumed that the solderless electrical wire connector is assembled

■ is done by inserting the body 10 vertically downwards into the cap 12 is pressed, as shown in dashed lines and indicated by arrows in F.ig. 1 is shown. In the following description and in the claims'

; is referenced to this vertical arrangement e.g. by the words "top side", "below" or the like referred to, and with regard to the ends and sides correspond to the designations of the normal description of an elongated, box-like object. Of course, these details, such as "above", below, side, Boden, etc. "do not limit the assembly or usability of the. Connector, they are merely intended for improvement the understanding of the description chosen.

The cap 12 shown in Fig. 1 consists of a resilient, insulating material and has two side walls ± 4, two End walls 16 and 17 and a bottom plate 18. The end walls 16 Una 17 have openings 19 and 20 for the durohlu ^ fenden wire

: 22 and the tap wire 2 ^ (not shown in Fig. 1). Stops 24 (see Fig. 5, 4, 5 uni8) are made of one piece with the c3eitenwänaen 14 and the base plate l8. Each stop 24 has a vertical groove, the width of which is approximately equal to the thickness of the metal contact element 26, in order to receive and hold the contact element 26 in a vertical position with respect to the cap 12. The distance between the corresponding

, Grooves is roughly equal to the width of the element 26. If the

. Contact element 26 is printed perpendicularly into the grooves, deform lateral knobs 27 the material of the stops, the sLeh wraps around the knobs and secures the element 26 in the cap 12 (see Fig. 8). The contact element 26 consists of a

: thin, flat metal segment, preferably made of a copper alloy like spring brass o.a., the lower edge of which is a number.

■ has upwardly extending legs 29, which: j extend parallel to one another over the main part of their length and are arranged at a distance from one another in order to open a wire ^; defining taking, elongated recesses $ 1. The distant ones

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: Ends of the legs 29 diverge and form openings 32 for the recesses 31 to guide the wires 22 and

ι 23? in the wire receiving channels 48 and 49 into the recesses 31 support. The opposite parallel edges the legs 29 are at a distance from each other that is somewhat is smaller than the diameter of the smallest wire conductor, with which a connection is to be established. When the body 10 and the cap 12 of the connector are partially

! closed position as in Pig. 4, the diverging ends of the legs 29 come into contact with the wires 22 and 23 and lead them into the recesses 31 ". As the closure continues, the wires 22 and 23 are pressed into the recesses 3I, and the opposite edges of the legs 29, ctie define each recess 31, cut into and through the insulation of the wires 22 and 23 and lie against the conductors ._> 3 of the wires 21: and 23. The conductors 33 press the resilient legs 29 apart, so that the legs during the test to return to their original position, apply continuous pressure against the conductors 33 ^ and maintain a "pre-tensioned" electrical contact between them. The total width; de · '; Contact element 26 near the legs 2y is less than an inner distance between the side walls (see Fig. 3) 14, iarnit the legs can be resiliently pressed apart without interference from the side walls 14 and ^u prevent the pressed apart legs in the above through all walls 14 and thus reduce the electrical insulation properties of the connector. Connections made in this way have been tested, and it has been found that α as .3 results in an unusually low resistance which is retained even under mechanical stress or under temperature or pressure fluctuations.

At a distance from and on opposite sides of the contact element 26 there is a pair of flexible wire holders 34 (FIG. 1), which are connected to the side walls 14 and the base plate JS

consist of one piece and the slots 35 are in line with the recesses 33 (Fig. 3). ß- ¹ - ° slots

BAD ORIGINAL 209882/0841

35 are defined by upwardly extending fingers 37, the opposite edges of which diverge at the ends to form openings 30. The inclined edges defining the openings 38 guide the wires 22 and 23 in the wire receiving channels 48 and 49 into the recesses 31 and slots 35 # when the connector is closed (Figures 3, 4 and 5). The opposite edges of the Finger 37 * the * define the slots 35. Keep at a distance a little less than the outer diameter of the thinnest wire to be connected to. Since the wires are pressed into the braid 35, the resilient pingers 37 bend due to the pressure of the wires 22 and 23 against the edges of the pingers to keep 48 and 49, ■ when aie parts 10 and 12 of the connector are in the partially closed position, and to aie voltage in the conductors ^ at ^ Konü ktelement to limit 26 after the closing of the connector to a Miiiimum. There is a space between the protruding part of the fingers 37 ^and the side walls 14 to enable the pingers 37 to be bent.

Vdm the inner surface of the sidewalls 14 is close to the Eckerider Cap 12 a first set of pawls nerve or, the. consists of four upper projections 40 and four lower projections 4l. The protrusions 40 and 41 are vertically spaced from each other in order to nib a second set of pawls on the body 10 to work together and> determine the open, partially closed, and closed positions of body 10 and cap 12 as it is now will be described in more detail.

The body 10 is preferably made of a relatively transparent, insulating material and has a square, block-like shape with a base plate 44 and two end walls 46 and channel 48 extends through the end walls 46 and 47 to the; Aul't:; herce the. continuous. Wire. The channel 49 extends through the wall 47 and partially , wolf .: uuron the wall 46 for receiving

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^{1 of} the tap wire 23. The end wall 46 contains an inner stop surface 50 and a deflector plate 51 (FIG. 2) in the channel 49, in order to prevent the tap wire 23 from extending beyond the end of the body 10. The baffle 51 deflects the end of the wire 23 vertically towards the surface 50 and thereby binds the end of the wire 23 in the wall 46. Two plate-like supports 52 extend between the end walls and from the base plate 1 is a distance from the adjacent end wall 46 and 47 in order to define an elongated cavity therebetween for receiving a different one of the slotted brackets 34 .. each _; 1 carrier 52 shark; a Ereite, which was slightly lower than the one ex \ I 26 and the brackets 34 between the element at the: 12, cap to fit in between (Fig. 6). The two _; ¹ carrier 52 are spaced apart to form a groove, \ that lies transversely to the wire receiving channels 48 and 49 and receives the contact member 26th Semicircular seats 53, which define part of the channels 48 and 49, carry the wires 22 and 23 # when these are pushed into the recesses 31 and the slots 35. In the groove there are two push rods 55 'in line with the recesses 31 (Fig. 8), and their width is less than the distance between the legs 29 to easily fit into the recesses 3I and the wires 22 and 23 in to press these recesses 3I in the contact element 26. ^! In each cavity between a beam and the end wall there are [! two posts 57 near this end wall and in line with it! j the slots (Fig.3-5) 55 to press the wires 22 and 23 into the {slots 35 of the wire holders 34. The push rods' \ 55 and the posts extend downwardly to a lower jFläohe define with the upper surface of each channel 48; ^! and 49 match. -

. The end walls 46 and 47 of the body 10 support a second set. ; i pawls with an upper set of four projections 11 and a i second or lower set of projections which are aut> four couples! of approaches 62 and 63 exist. DLe protrusions 11, 62 and 63 The second Klinkenu.itbüü work with <ien projections 40 and 41

BAD ORIGINAL 209882/0841

of the first set of pawls, together to form a detent, which defines the open (Fig. 3) and partially closed (Fig. 4) positions of the connector and forms a fuse to secure the connector in the closed position (Fig. 5). The lugs 62 are in the open position (FIG. 3) and 63 on body 10 in the space between the projections

40 and 4l on the cap 12. With enough pressure on the body

10 and the cap 12 to the lugs 62 and 63 over the projections

41 to move out, the cap and body move

. to the partially closed position (Fig. 4), with the projections 40 and 41 on the cap 12 in the space between the lugs 63 and uen projections 11 are located. In the partially closed position, the upper lugs 63 abut against the lower protrusions 41 and the upper protrusions 40 against the beveled surfaces 58, so that the reaction forces against the upper lugs 6J and the surfaces 58

; hold the body 10 and cap 12 in the partially closed position. As in Flg. 4, the wires 22 and 2J are partially wedged into the protrusions 51 and the slots 35 and are thus held in the connector with a craftsman's finger pressure being sufficient to remove the body 10 and cap 12 from the open to compress to the partially closed position. With the wires thus held in a connector, the handyman can loosen the finger pressure on the connector without the wires easily separating from the connector and instead use a pliers-like tool around the body and cap 10 and 12, respectively of the connector into the fully closed position, which is shown in FIG. 5 and in which the legs 29 of the contact element 26 cut through the insulation and establish electrical connection with the conductors 33 of the wires 22 and 23. During this movement of the body 10 and cap 12, the resilient walls 14 of the cap 12 bend outwards, while the projections 4o slide along the inclined surfaces of the projections 11, and the parts sit in the fully closed position the projections 40 due to the resilient walls 14 above the projection 11 in the recesses ^ v in the body 10 to uen connector in the completely

2 0 9 8 8 ^2/0 8 A 1 mO ORIGINAL

secure closed position. From the end wall 47 on the channel 49 extends a semicircular plate 64 which forms an additional holder for the tap twist 23 and for the craftsman identifies the channel that is to receive the tap wire 23.

The body 10 has a transverse side opening 60 which communicates with the channel 48 and enables a length of the continuous wire 22 to be inserted laterally into the channel when the body 10 and cap 12 are in the open position (Fig 3) The inclined surfaces 58 on the pawls 11 assist in guiding the continuous wire 23 into the channel 48. As can be seen in Figure 5, the side opening 60 for the continuous wire 22 is the entire length of the adjacent wall 14 when the body 10 and cap 12 are in the closed position.

Before assembling the connector, a quantity of relatively clear dielectric grease (not shown) is preferred lubricated into the cap 12 around aas contact element 26 when body 10 and cap 12 are secured in the fully closed position Bind, is encased around the dielectric grease by the wire supports 34, the bottom plate 18 and the walls 14 of the cap 12 and ale base plate 44 of the body 10, thus preventing the erosion of the dielectric grease when the connector is exposed to moisture.

A specific illustrative but non-limiting example of a preferred embodiment of the connector suitable for connecting insulated copper wires from 22 to 28 AWO is constructed as follows: The body is formed from clear polycarbonate and has an overall length of 1.11 cm, a Overall width of 0.64 cm and a total height of 0.56 cm. The longitudinal channels 48 and 49 have a diameter of 0.13. cm. The cap 12, which is also made of polycarbonate, has a total length of 0.95 om _$ an overall width of 0.80 cm and cm a total height of 0.60. The plate-like, slotted holding

209882/0841 ^BAD original

Stanchions 54 each have a thickness of 0.066 cm and have fingers yj , which define slots 55 of 0.56 cm width with a 40 ° inclination of the side fingers and radii of 0.06 cm on the middle finger. The metal contact element 26 is made of a copper alloy No. 260 and has a total height of 0.58 cm, a total width of 0.52 cm, a thickness of 0.04 cm, with the legs 29 defining recesses 51 of 0.024 cm therebetween have a 50 ° inclination at the front edge of the opening 52 *.

It will be apparent from the description that the illustrated vertical orientation of body 10 and cap 12 is convenient for the craftsman allows, through the transparent body 10 according to; Look at the bottom of the connector to see if the wires are , and the notches align before the connector is compressed. However, it can also be the cap 12 in addition or can only be made see-through if it is desired to see through the cap before moving it down over the body 10 is pressed.

- Patent claims -

209882/0841

Claims (1)

Patent claims: Solderless wire connector for electrically connecting at least two electrical wires, each consisting of a ^; I consist of metal conductors and an insulating coating, consisting of an insulating, resilient first part with parallel wire receiving channels and one perpendicular to these channels ^; extending groove, the first part having a ground set of protruding pawls, of an isolating, resilient second part which on the first part for relative movement! to the first part from an open position to a closed ne position is built up and a second sentence protruding. Has pawls that cooperate with the first set of pawls j ι tet to determine the open position and the first on the ! second part in the closed position when moving 'to secure the first and the second part, and from a Mei
tallkontaktelement which is attached to the second part and • has spaced-apart legs that define parallel wire, Aufnalimeaausrückungen between them, the contact ^! element is spaced from the wire receiving channels when the first and second parts are in the open position, I and is located across the channels in the slot if, • the first and the second part in the closed position j to attach to the electrical wires in the slot and make an electrical connection therebetween, ·! BAD ORIGINAL 209882/0841 characterized in that the first and second sets of claws (11, 62, 63, 40, 41) have cooperating projections (11, 40,! 41, 63) to secure the first and second parts (10, 12 ) releasable in a partially closed position between the.; open and fully closed positions, the connector having wire retainers (24) for engaging the wires (22, 25) in the channels (48, 49) when the first and second parts (10, 12) lung are in the partially closed position to the electrical wires (22, 23) in the channels (48, 49) to hold in alignment with the contact element (26), and '· that the cooperation of the pawls (11, 62, 63 needs 40, 41) a ¹ motion due to fingerprints jerk, through which the first 'and the second part (10, be brought from the open closed in the partial \ position 12) so that the wire supports the wires (22, 23) attack. ¹ 2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the; j wire holders (34) are formed on the second part (12)! and consist of spaced-apart fingers (37): define the parallel slots (35), the fingers (37) lying with the slots (35) in alignment with the recesses (31) in the contact element (26) and transversely to the channels (48,49) to engage the wires (22,23) in the channels when the first and second parts (10,12) are in the partially closed position. '3. Connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the * .Dr & h holders (34) on both sides of the contact element (26) are spaced apart, with the distant finding of the fingers (37) Define diverging openings (38) in the slots (35) and can engage the wires (22, 23) in the channels (48, 49), around the wires (22, 23) in alignment with the recesses (31) to be arranged in the catact element (26) when the first is moved and the second part (10, 12) from the open to the partially closed position, BATH ORIGINAL 209882/0841 4, connector according to claim 1, characterized in that it; an electrical connection to at least one continuous; ι wire (22) can produce, wherein the first part (10) has a '■ transverse opening (60), the one side with the wire ¹ receiving channel (48) for the continuous wire in% rbinding , and where da3 second part a wall (14) at a distance from the Queröfinung, (6o) cries to the arrangement of a length of the ι continuous wire (o2) in aerr. Channel (48) to cause when 'the first and the wide part (10, 12) are in the outer open position ^! and that the transverse opening (6o) is completely disconnected,! when the first and second parts (10, 12) are in the closed position. 5. Connector according to claim 4, characterized in that; ^! around the connector contains a quantity of dielectric grease to the] contact element (26) and the first and the second part 1 ι (10, 12) have mating walls (14, 18, 34, 44) to a generally complete envelope around the dielectric j fat and the contact ^{element (26) z} Biien when the wires (22, 23) are arranged in the connector and the first and the second part j are in the closed position « ! 6. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the first part (10) has rods (55) in the groove above the channels (48, 49), the width of which is less than the distance between the legs (29) of the contact element (26) defining the recesses (51), each rod (5. ^r >) being attached so that a surface is generally coplanar with the surface of one of the channels (48,49) opposite the Contact element (26), and is oriented so that it penetrates the recess (3I) and presses a wire (22,2Jj) in the channel (48,49) into the recess (31) when the first and the second part (10, 12) are moved into their closed position. 209882/0841 _: Heipa / fcr. 'BAD ORIGINAL Blank page